Our Scripture reading today is Luke 14:17-20.
Verse 18, "And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused."
If we thought making excuses regarding where God wants us to be or do what God wants us to do is a 21st century thing, we find out this morning that is not true. We can actually go back to the Garden of Eden and we will hear excuses from Adam and Eve. If we come up with an excuse, it is an attempt to shift the blame to someone or something else. It is an attempt to explain why we did not follow through on what was right.
How many of God's children are caught up today in one excuse after another? The devil is very smart and is more than willing to give us as many excuses as possible. He has helped excuse Christians from not attending church so often, they are now completely out of church. God prepares something at every church service for his children. There is also someone at every church service who needs exhorting and encouraging. Satan, knowing this, does everything possible to keep newer and even older Christians from being in their place. God's Word says in Hebrews 10:25, "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." When it comes to you church attendance, are you a "so much the more" Christian or have you allowed Satan to lead you into being a "less and less" Christian?